Charlie had given me directions to Sam's house; I guess he was the one who organized the search party. A wave of shame and guilt hit me. I made Charlie worry; I made people who didn't know me search for me like a lost dog. On top of that I had to thank them, thanking them wasn't the bad part. It was the reasoning why they had to look for me. It was entirely my fault. Just because I couldn't handle my life, my emotions, like a normal person could.

How could I face a bunch of strangers? Would they judge me?

Why do I care if people I didn't know judged me, it happened every day at school, why would this be any different?

All too soon I pulled up to a quaint little cottage style home, with a group of half-naked guys outside.

Wait that one looked like…are you kidding me?!

This is where Embry took off to?

By this time I was fuming, I was flat out pissed. This is what he left our friendship for? To hang out with a gang of ripped guys.

They all stopped and looked at me with something akin to horror etched in their handsome faces.

Good. They needed to be scared. The idea of thanking them was now just a whisper on the wind.

Getting out of my truck I quickly hoofed it to the stunned group of shirtless guys. They were going to get an earful about taking my best friend from me.

I strode up to Embry first, punching him as hard as I could in the face. It hurt like hell but made my anger fade a degree.

"That's for ignoring me you ass" I said before stomping back to my truck. The rest of my plan went to hell when I saw the pain in his eyes and it wasn't from my wicked right hook.

Before I made it back to my truck I felt a hand on my arm, I was ready to throw another punch if need be. I didn't care that I was supposed to be here to give gratitude; they had stolen my Embry from me, gratefulness be damned.

I froze not wanting to see who was touching me, but the strangely warm hand seemed familiar.

"That was some punch" the deep, also familiar, voice said.

Really that's why he stopped me to say I punched well?

"Is that all or can I leave? Sorry to say but your praises don't really mean shit to me." Venom dripping from every word, I just wanted to get out of here and go cry.

"You hurt yourself didn't you? Why don't you come in and have Emily look at it" he said completely ignoring my previous statement.

The pain in my hand decided then would be a good time to make an appearance. The throbbing was almost unbearable, almost.

"I'm fine, it doesn't hurt one bit." I said through clenched teeth, still not looking at my captor.

"Suit it yourself babe" he said before I was hefted over his shoulder.

My new position gave me a lovely view of his toned back and…nope not going there his body may be finger licking good but I would not think like that. I should be mad right now, not checking this stranger out. I heard someone growling, wait who growled?

"Paul put her down" that was Embry's voice. Oh hell no he can't ignore me for weeks on end then be all protective.

"No way cowboy you don't get to have a say in my life, since you dropped out of it without a word. Just back off. And you" I said punching the back of Paul; I guess his name is, with my good hand.

"Put me down. I'm not a sack of potatoes you can haul around."

He just chuckled.

When he finally set me down on a chair in what I was guessing was the kitchen I was ready to bolt out the door. But when he finally set me down my eyes traveled up his body to his face.

He had cocky grin plastered on, "Do you see some-"he cut off and just stared at me. I couldn't help but feel draw into his dark brown eyes.

Hours, minutes, seconds they didn't matter I felt like I was at home when I looked in his inviting chocolaty orbs. I vaguely felt a smile creep up on my lips, where was all this happiness coming from?

It seemed almost as if the world stopped turning and time stood still just for this moment, just so we could gaze at one another. I wanted to feel his arms around me, to be submerged in all that he was, that no other place was safer than by his side.

A loud snarl snapped me out of it, then suddenly I was frightened of those feelings I had felt.

I wanted to run, hoping that everything that happened would stay behind so I could escape them.

The snarling continued I looked up to the doorway to see Embry; the noise was coming out of him.

A man that was taller than the rest told Paul and Embry to take it outside. Good this way I could get the hell out of here.

Too bad someone above had it out for me today.

The man that ordered the guys outside sat next to me, I fidgeted under his intense gaze.

"I'm sorry" he said his eyes looking tired. Whoa wait why he was apologizing?

My confusion must have made him want to explain.

"There are many things in this world that you don't know, we are one of them." He said cryptically.

What was he talking about? An extremely loud growl made me run to the door. I didn't want to believe what I saw but still I walked forward to watch what was ensuing.

The dark grey wolf from my dreams was standing, snarling next to a lighter grey one. I knew right then that the dark one was Paul and the other was Embry.

They were having a pretty severe fight, well it was to me. The other guys sat around watching amused. I think I heard them taking bets on who would win the fight.

I broke from my stupor, seeing giant wolves can do that to people, and walked up to the one I figured was Sam.

"What the hell is this? Is this why Embry didn't want to see me anymore? And what in god's name happened with that Paul guy?" I wanted answers and I wanted them now.

Everything went eerily silent, "We are the protectors of our people and our secret is to only be known by us and the elders, so yes this is why Embry couldn't see you. He is newly phased and not in control of his wolf yet, he could unintentionally hurt you. And what happened with Paul…it's not my place to tell you."

Wow that was a lot to take in, wolves, Embry being one and something I feared was more shocking than everything combined.